Hall of Famer Chuck Daly Dies at 78

Chuck Daly, who coached the Detroit Pistons to back-to-back championships and the Dream Team to Gold, died early Saturday morning at 78. Daly lost his fight with pancreatic cancer after being dianosed only two months earlier.

Daly will be celebrated for his ability to form a group of superstars into a team. He famously was able to accomplish this with the "Bad Boys" and later with the Dream team. The "Bad Boy" Pistons who never had back-to-back winning seasons, had nine in a row under Daly (including two championships).

Daly made all the right moves, including motivating the likes of Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, John Salley, Dennis Rodman, Joe Dumars, and Isiah Thomas.

He later accomplished much the same feat with the original Dream Team. Famously starting a different starting five every game, and deal with a group of personalities that included Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Charles Barkley. They would go on win Olympic Gold.

Daly who was born and raised in rural Pennsylvania will be especially missed. To this day, many of a sign hangs devoted to Daly. He was born in St. Mary's, raised in Kane - and played his college ball at Bloomsburg. He cut his coaching teeth at Punxsutawney High and University of Penn.

When Daly retired he was famously quoted as saying, "It's a players' league. They allow you to coach them or they don't. Once they stop allowing you to coach, you're on your way out."

Daly is survived by his Wife Terry, daughter Cydney, and grandchildren Sebrina and Connor.